U.S. patent number 7,686,514 [Application Number 11/732,725] was granted by the patent office on 2010-03-30 for wiper for linear motion guide apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Hiwin Technologies Corp.. Invention is credited to Tsung-Jen Chen, Shih-Hsin Hung.
United States Patent |
7,686,514 |
Hung , et al. |
March 30, 2010 |
Wiper for linear motion guide apparatus
Abstract
A linear motion guide device includes a slider slidably attached
onto a guide rail, an end cap and a wiper device attached to each
side of the slider, the wiper device includes two wiping members to
be easily and detachably attached to each of the end cap without
tools and fasteners. The wiping members each include one or more
projections or one or more latches for engaging with the end cap
and for anchoring and positioning the wiping members to the end cap
without tools and fasteners. The end cap includes a space separated
into two chambers and for receiving the wiping members
respectively. The wiping members each include a soft wiping portion
for resiliently engaging with the guide rail.
Inventors: |
Hung; Shih-Hsin (Taichung,
TW), Chen; Tsung-Jen (Taichung, TW) |
Assignee: |
Hiwin Technologies Corp.
(Taichung, TW)
|
Family
ID: |
39826978 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/732,725 |
Filed: |
April 4, 2007 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20080247688 A1 |
Oct 9, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
384/15;
384/45 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16C
29/086 (20130101); F16C 29/0633 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F16C
33/76 (20060101); F16C 29/06 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;384/15,45 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hannon; Thomas R
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Baxley; Charles E.
Claims
We claim:
1. A linear motion guide apparatus comprising: a guide rail, a
slider slidably attached onto said guide rail for moving along said
guide rail, two end caps attached to said slider, a wiper device
including two wiping members to be detachably attached to each of
said end cap, and means for securing said wiping members to said
end cap.
2. The linear motion guide apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said securing means includes at least one projection extended from
each of said wiping members for engaging with said end cap and for
anchoring and positioning said wiping members to said end cap.
3. The linear motion guide apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein
said end cap includes at least one cavity formed therein for
engaging with said at least one projection of each of said wiping
members.
4. The linear motion guide apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein
said end cap includes a rib extended therefrom and having said at
least one cavity formed in said rib.
5. The linear motion guide apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein
said end cap includes a hub provided in said rib for attaching a
mouth.
6. The linear motion guide apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein
said wiping members each include a depression formed therein for
receiving said hub and for anchoring said wiping members to said
end cap.
7. The linear motion guide apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said end cap includes a space formed therein and defined by an
outer peripheral wall for receiving said wiping members of said
wiper device.
8. The linear motion guide apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein
said end cap includes a rib extended therefrom for separating said
space of said end cap into two chambers and for receiving said
wiping members respectively.
9. The linear motion guide apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said wiping members of each of said wiper devices each include at
least one latch extended therefrom for engaging with said end cap
and for detachably anchoring and positioning said wiping members of
said wiper device to said end cap without tools.
10. The linear motion guide apparatus as claimed in claim 9,
wherein said end cap includes an outer peripheral wall having two
notches formed therein for receiving and engaging with said at
least one latch of said wiping members.
11. The linear motion guide apparatus as claimed in claim 10,
wherein said end cap includes at least one stop extended into each
of said compartments thereof for engaging with said at least one
latch of said wiping members.
12. The linear motion guide apparatus as claimed in claim 9,
wherein said wiping members each include a catch extended from said
at least one latch for engaging with said end cap.
13. The linear motion guide apparatus as claimed in claim 9,
wherein said wiping members each include a hand grip extended from
said at least one latch for being depressed by a user.
14. The linear motion guide apparatus as claimed in claim 9,
wherein said wiping members each include a compartment formed
therein and said at least one latch is provided within said
compartment of each of said wiping members.
15. The linear motion guide apparatus as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said wiping members each include a wiping portion attached
to an inner peripheral portion thereof and made of soft materials
for resiliently engaging with said guide rail.
16. The linear motion guide apparatus as claimed in claim 15,
wherein said wiping portion includes a groove formed in an inner
peripheral portion of said wiping portion for forming an inner
peripheral flange.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a linear motion guide apparatus,
and more particularly to a linear motion guide apparatus including
a wiper designed and arranged to be easily and readily attached to
or disengaged from the linear motion guide apparatus without
additional tools.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical linear motion guide devices comprise a slider or slide
block slidably attached onto a guide rail, and normally, a ball
bearing device disposed between the slider and the guide rail for
facilitating the sliding movement between the slider and the guide
rail and for allowing the slider and the guide rail to be smoothly
moved relative to each other.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,722 to Yuasa et al. discloses one
of the typical linear motion rolling guide units comprising a
slider or slide block slidably attached onto a guide rail, and one
or more end seals or wiper devices attached onto the slide block or
the end caps and having a soft rubber lips or lip portions for
engaging with the guide rail and for making a tight seal between
the slide block and the guide rail and for wiping off the dust or
particles or the like that may be engaged into the space formed
between the slide block and the guide rail.
However, the dust proof wipers or end seals are solidly secured
onto the end cap or the slide block with four or more fasteners,
and it will also take a long time to fasten and to unfasten the
fasteners onto and from the dust proof seal. In addition, the dust
proof wipers or end seals should be slightly bent or twisted for
allowing the dust proof wipers or end seals to be attached onto and
engaged with the guide rail.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,652,146 to Lee discloses another typical linear
motion rolling guide device also comprising a slider or slide block
slidably attached onto a guide rail, and a dust proof seal attached
onto the slide block and having a soft rubber member for engaging
with the guide rail and for making a tight seal between the slide
block and the guide rail and for wiping off the dust or particles
or the like that may be engaged into the space formed between the
slide block and the guide rail.
However, similarly, the dust proof seal is normally solidly secured
onto an end cap or the slide block with four or more fasteners, and
it takes a long time to fasten and to unfasten the fasteners onto
and from the dust proof seal. In addition, the dust proof seals may
only be attached or engaged onto the guide rail from the end
portion of the guide rail.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,121,724 to Lee et al. discloses a further typical
linear motion rolling guide device also comprising a slider or
slide block slidably attached onto a guide rail, and a wiper member
attached onto the slide block and having a soft rubber member for
engaging with the guide rail and for making a tight seal between
the slide block and the guide rail, and a frame provided for
receiving or securing the end caps and the wiper members.
However, the wiper members and the end caps are required to be
received and secured in the frame, such that the end caps and the
wiper members also may only be attached or engaged onto the guide
rail from the end portion of the guide rail, and the wiper members
may not be easily and quickly attached or engaged onto the end
caps.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the
afore-described disadvantages of the conventional linear motion
guide devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a
linear motion guide apparatus including a wiper designed and
arranged to be easily and readily attached to or disengaged from
the linear motion guide apparatus without additional tools.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a
linear motion guide apparatus comprising a guide rail, a slider
slidably attached onto the guide rail for moving along the guide
rail, two end caps attached to the slider, a wiper device including
two wiping members to be detachably attached to each of the end
cap, and a securing device for securing the wiping members to the
end cap.
The securing device includes at least one projection extended from
each of the wiping members for engaging with the end cap and for
anchoring and positioning the wiping members to the end cap. The
end cap includes at least one cavity formed therein for engaging
with the projection of each of the wiping members.
The end cap includes a rib extended therefrom and having the cavity
formed in the rib. The end cap includes a hub provided in the rib
for attaching a mouth. The wiping members each include a depression
formed therein for receiving the hub and for anchoring the wiping
members to the end cap.
The end cap includes a space formed therein and defined by an outer
peripheral wall for receiving the wiping members of the wiper
device. The rib of the end cap may separate the space of the end
cap into two chambers and for receiving the wiping members
respectively.
The wiping members of each of the wiper devices each include at
least one latch extended therefrom for engaging with the end cap
and for detachably anchoring and positioning the wiping members of
the wiper device to the end cap without tools. The end cap includes
an outer peripheral wall having two notches formed therein for
receiving and engaging with the latch of the wiping members.
The end cap includes at least one stop extended into each of the
compartments thereof for engaging with the latch of the wiping
members. The wiping members each include a catch extended from the
latch for engaging with the end cap.
The wiping members each include a hand grip extended from the latch
for being depressed by a user. The wiping members each include a
compartment formed therein and the latch is provided within the
compartment of each of the wiping members.
The wiping members each include a wiping portion attached to an
inner peripheral portion thereof and made of soft materials for
resiliently engaging with the guide rail. The wiping portion
includes a groove formed in an inner peripheral portion of the
wiping portion for forming an inner peripheral flange.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description
provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a linear motion guide
apparatus in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the linear motion guide
apparatus;
FIG. 3 is another partial exploded view of the linear motion guide
apparatus;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the linear motion
guide apparatus;
FIGS. 5, 6, 7 are enlarged partial perspective views similar to
FIG. 4, illustrating the operation of the linear motion guide
apparatus;
FIG. 8 is a partial exploded view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating
the other application of the linear motion guide apparatus;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the linear motion
guide apparatus as shown in FIG. 8; and
FIGS. 10, 11, 12 are enlarged partial perspective views similar to
FIG. 9, illustrating the operation of the linear motion guide
apparatus as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a linear
motion guide apparatus 1 in accordance with the present invention
comprises a guide rail 10 including a substantially I-shaped cross
section having two longitudinal recesses 11 formed in the side
portions thereof, and a slide block or a slider 12 slidably
attached onto the guide rail 10 and arranged to be moved along the
guide rail 10, and normally, a ball bearing device (not shown)
disposed between the slider 12 and the guide rail 10 for
facilitating the sliding movement between the slider 12 and the
guide rail 10 and for allowing the slider 12 and the guide rail 10
to be smoothly moved relative to each other. Two end caps 20 are
disposed on the two sides or end portions or outer portions of the
slider 12 and attached or secured to the slider 12 with such as
fasteners 14 (FIGS. 1, 2) respectively.
The linear motion guide apparatus 1 in accordance with the present
invention further includes two dust caps or wiper devices 40
disposed on the outer portions of the end caps 20 and to be
detachably attached or secured onto the end caps 20 without
additional tools. The ball bearing device (not shown) and the
slider 12 are not related to the present invention and will not be
described in further details. The end caps 20 each include a
channel 21 formed in the lower portion thereof (FIGS. 2, 3) for
slidably receiving or engaging onto the guide rail 10, and a space
22 formed therein, such as formed in the outer portion 23 thereof
that faces away from the slider 12 or distal to the slider 12, and
formed and defined by an outer peripheral wall 24 which includes an
upper segment 25 and two side segments 26 and two lower segments
27.
The end caps 20 each further include a rib 28 extended downwardly
from the middle portion of the upper segment 25 and extended toward
the channel 21 of the end cap 20, and an enlarged hub 29 formed or
provided in the middle portion of the rib 28 for allowing the space
22 of the end cap 20 to be separated into two separated chambers
30, 31 by the rib 28 and/or the hub 29, and one or more (such as
two) cavities 32 formed in each side of the rib 28 and
communicating with the respective chamber 30, 31 and preferably
located on two sides of the hub 29, or the cavities 32 of the end
cap 20 are separated from each other by the hub 29, and one or more
(such as two) notches 33 formed in the outer peripheral wall 24,
such as formed in the two side segments 26 of the outer peripheral
wall 24 respectively.
The end caps 20 each further include one or more (such as two) pegs
or stops 34 oppositely extended into the respective notch 33 of the
end cap 20 for allowing the notches 33 to be formed into the
substantially C-shaped structure or to be formed and acted as a
lock notch 33. A mouth 35 may be attached to each of the end caps
20, such as attached to the hub 29 of the end cap 20 for filling a
lubricant into the end caps 20 and for lubricating the ball bearing
device (not shown). The structure of the mouth 35 is also not
related to the present invention and will not be described in
further details. The dust caps or wiper devices 40 are to be
detachably attached or secured on the outer portions of the end
caps 20 and/or into the chambers 30, 31 or the space 22 of the end
caps 20 respectively without additional tools.
The wiper device 40 for each of the end caps 20 includes two wiping
members 41 each having a substantially C or L-shaped structure for
engaging into the respective chambers 30, 31 of the end cap 20 and
for arranged for allowing the wiping members 41 to form a
substantially inverted U-shaped structure, and for allowing the
wiper device 40 to also include a channel 42 formed in the lower
portion thereof and having a shape corresponding to that of the
guide rail 10 for slidably receiving the guide rail 10 and for
snugly and softly or resiliently engaging onto the guide rail 10.
The wiping members 41 of the wiper device 40 each include a wiping
portion 43 attached to or formed in the inner peripheral portion
thereof and for softly or resiliently engaging with the guide rail
10 and for wiping off the dust or particles or the like that may be
engaged into the space formed between the slide block 12 and the
guide rail 10. It is preferable that the wiping portions 43 are
preferably made of the plastic or soft or rubber materials softer
than that for the wiping members 41.
As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, the wiper devices 40 each include a groove
44 formed in the inner peripheral portion thereof for forming or
defining an inner peripheral flange 45 and for forming a resilient
structure to further softly or resiliently engaging with the guide
rail 10. The wiping members 41 each include one or more (such as
two) projections 46 extended therefrom, such as extended from one
end or inner end portion 47 thereof for engaging into the
corresponding or the respective cavities 32 of the end cap 20 and
for anchoring and positioning the inner end portions 47 of the
wiping members 41 to the end cap 20 and for preventing the wiping
members 41 from being disengaged from the end cap 20. The wiping
members 41 each further include a depression 48 formed in the inner
end portion 47 thereof and preferably located between the
projections 46 for receiving the hub 29 and for further anchoring
and positioning the inner end portions 47 of the wiping members 41
to the end cap 20.
The wiping members 41 each further include a compartment 49 formed
in the other end or the outer portion 50 thereof, and one or more
(such as two) spring or resilient arms or latches 51 extended
therefrom, such as extended from the other end or the outer portion
50 thereof or provided within the compartment 49 of each of the
wiping members 41 and partially extended out of the compartment 49
of the wiping member 41 and partially extended out beyond the outer
portion 50 of the wiping member 41 and for engaging into the
corresponding lock notch 33 of the end cap 20 (FIGS. 4-5) and for
selectively engaging with the stops 34 of the end cap 20 and thus
for detachably anchoring and positioning the outer portion 50 of
the wiping members 41 to the end cap 20. The outer portion 50 of
the wiping members 41 may be selectively disengaged form the end
cap 20 when the latches 51 are depressed and disengaged form the
stops 34 of the end cap 20 (FIGS. 6, 7).
It is preferable that the wiper devices 40 further include a catch
52 formed or extended from each of the latches 51 of the respective
wiping members 41 for selectively engaging the stops 34 or the end
cap 20 (FIGS. 4-7) and thus for further detachably anchoring and
positioning the outer portion 50 of the wiping members 41 to the
end cap 20. The latches 51 and/or the catches 52 of the wiping
members 41 may be disengaged form the stops 34 and/or the end cap
20 by depressing such as the latches 51. It is preferable that the
latches 51 each further include a protrusion or hand grip 53
extended therefrom, such as laterally extended from the latches 51
respectively for being depressed by the users and for allowing the
latches 51 and/or the catches 52 to be easily or suitably depressed
and disengaged form the stops 34 and/or the end cap 20 and thus for
allowing the wiping members 41 of the wiper device 40 to be
selectively latched to or disengaged from the end cap 20 by the
resilient latches 51 without additional tools or fasteners.
In operation, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the projections 46 of the
wiping members 41 may first be engaged into the corresponding or
the respective cavities 32 of the end cap 20 in order to anchor and
position the inner end portions 47 of the wiping members 41 to the
end cap 20. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the latches 51 and/or the
catches 52 of the wiping members 41 may then be engaged into the
corresponding lock notch 33 of the end cap 20 and/or engaged with
the stops 34 of the end cap 20 for solidly anchoring and
positioning the outer portion 50 of the wiping members 41 to the
end cap 20 and thus for selectively latching or disengaging the
wiping members 41 from the end cap 20 without additional tools or
fasteners. The wiping members 41 may be easily and quickly changed
for the other ones or the new ones when the wiping portions 43 of
the wiping members 41 have been worn out.
Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 8-12, two dust caps or wiper
devices 40 are also provided and to be detachably attached or
secured onto each of the end caps 20 without additional tools. The
end caps 20 each also include a space 22 formed in the outer
portion 23 thereof and formed and defined by an outer peripheral
wall 24 which includes an upper segment 25 and two side segments 26
and two lower segments 27, a rib 28 extended downwardly from the
middle portion of the upper segment 25, and an enlarged hub 29
formed or provided in the middle portion of the rib 28 for allowing
the space 22 of the end cap 20 to be separated into two separated
chambers 30, 31 by the rib 28 and/or the hub 29, and one or more
(such as two) cavities 32 formed in each side of the rib 28 and
communicating with the respective chamber 30, 31 of the end cap 20,
and one or more (such as two) notches 33 formed in the outer
peripheral wall 24, and one or more (such as two) pegs or stops 34
oppositely extended into the respective notch 33 of the end cap
20.
The wiper device 40 for each of the end caps 20 also includes two
wiping members 41 each having a substantially C or L-shaped
structure for engaging into the respective chambers 30, 31 of the
end cap 20, and each having a soft or resilient wiping portion 43
for softly or resiliently engaging with the guide rail 10, and each
having one or more (such as two) projections 46 for engaging into
the respective cavities 32 of the end cap 20, and each having a
compartment 49 formed in the outer portion 50 thereof, and one or
more (such as two) spring or resilient arms or latches 55 extended
from the outer portion 50 thereof or provided within the
compartment 49 of each of the wiping members 41 and partially
extended out of the compartment 49 of the wiping member 41 and
partially extended out beyond the outer portion 50 of the wiping
member 41 and for engaging into the corresponding lock notch 33 of
the end cap 20 (FIGS. 9-10) and for selectively engaging with the
stops 34 of the end cap 20 and thus for detachably anchoring and
positioning the outer portion 50 of the wiping members 41 to the
end cap 20.
The latches 55 may also be extended out of the side segments 26 of
the outer peripheral wall 24 (FIGS. 9-12) for being easily
depressed by the users, a catch 56 may further be formed or
extended from each of the latches 55 of the respective wiping
members 41 for selectively engaging the stops 34 or the end cap 20
(FIGS. 9-12) and thus for further detachably anchoring and
positioning the outer portion 50 of the wiping members 41 to the
end cap 20. The outer portion 50 of the wiping members 41 may also
be selectively disengaged form the end cap 20 when the latches 55
and/or the catches 56 are depressed and disengaged form the stops
34 of the end cap 20 (FIGS. 11, 12), i.e., the latches 55 and/or
the catches 56 of the wiping members 41 may be disengaged form the
stops 34 and/or the end cap 20 by depressing such as the latches 55
and/or the catches 56. It is preferable that the latches 55 each
further include a protrusion 57 extended therefrom, such as located
beside the catches 56 for selectively engaging with the stops 34 or
the end cap 20.
It is to be noted that the wiper devices 40 each include two wiping
members 41 for easily engaging into the chambers 30, 31 of the end
cap 20 and for easily and readily and quickly attached to or
disengaged from the respective end cap 20 by the catches 52 and/or
the latches 51 of the wiper device 40 without additional tools. It
is further to be noted that the wiper devices of the typical linear
motion rolling guide devices comprise an integral and inverted
U-shaped structure that may not be easily attached or engaged onto
the guide rail and the end caps, i.e., the typical linear motion
rolling guide devices failed to provide a wiper device having two
wiping members for easily attaching or securing onto the guide rail
and/or the end cap. The projections 46 and the latches 51 and/or
the catches 52 of the wiping members 41 may thus be formed and
acted as a locking or latching or securing means for anchoring and
positioning or securing or locking the wiping members 41 to the end
cap 20 and for selectively disengaging the wiping members 41 from
the end cap 20 without additional tools or fasteners.
Accordingly, the linear motion guide apparatus in accordance with
the present invention includes a wiper device having two wiping
members designed and arranged to be easily and readily attached to
or disengaged from the guide rail and/or the end cap without
additional tools.
Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of
particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure
has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in
the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of
parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *